News Briefs

12/1/2011, Kislev 5, 5772

Shekel Jumps as Banks Help Euro, Markets

The official value of the shekel rose an average of .584 percent against most currencies on the Bank of Israel's foreign exchange list on Thursday. The United States dollar was fixed at NIS 3.741, down 1.371 percent from Wednesday's rate, while the Euro slipped .085 percent to 5.0432 shekels. The pound sterling was set at NIS 5.8767, down .634 percent, and the Japanese yen fell 1.009 percent, 100 yen buying 4.8153 shekels.

Currencies in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, which are tied to the dollar, declined between 1.15 and 1.58 percent. The Canadian dollar was fixed at 3.6685 shekels, down .655 percent, and the South African rand rose rose 1.317 percent to NIS .4615. The Globes business publication attributed the jump to steps taken by central banks to address European debt and help stock markets.